The proposed State Task Force will focus on tackling cyber harassment, particularly against women and girls, while the Social Media Response Cell will coordinate action against misinformation and defamatory campaigns.

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Friday decided to set up a State-level Social Media Response Cell and a dedicated task force to curb the misuse of social media, while initiating a comprehensive review of legal and regulatory frameworks followed by other States and countries to strengthen action against online misinformation, cyber harassment and defamatory content.

Announcing the Cabinet decisions, Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the government would not tolerate the misuse of social media through false propaganda, obscene content, character assassination and posts that incite social hatred under the guise of free speech.

The proposed State Task Force will focus on tackling cyber harassment, particularly against women and girls, while the Social Media Response Cell will coordinate action against misinformation and defamatory campaigns. The government also plans to deploy advanced digital forensic tools to identify anonymous social media handles involved in spreading false information and malicious content.

As part of the initiative, district-level police officers, particularly Station House Officers (SHOs), will receive specialised training to investigate social media-related offences. The government will also appoint specialised public prosecutors for cybercrime cases and, where necessary, engage cyber experts to support police investigations.

Unchecked misinformation

Parthasarathy said the Cabinet discussed concerns that unchecked misinformation, personal attacks and defamatory campaigns on social media were undermining public confidence in democratic institutions and governance. While traditional media is governed by legal accountability and ethical standards, social media platforms have enabled the rapid spread of unverified and defamatory content, he said.

The State will undertake a detailed study of social media laws, policies and regulatory mechanisms adopted by other Indian States and developed countries before deciding on additional legal and administrative measures. The Minister reiterated that the government respects freedom of expression but would act firmly against content involving defamation, obscenity, misinformation and hate speech.

Published on July 10, 2026